It appears the Dominies have had air under their wings again.
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For Eastern?
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Nasty little aeroplanes . . . I can only just feel my frozen feet thawing out from the Functionals.
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Apparently 4 have been sold to BAe who are setting up an Engineering School at Humberside to train engineers destined to work at places like Waddinton, Coningsby and Marham. Two Doms were flown in and the other two by road to be used as spares. They also have some Hawks at Humberside for the same use.
The Dominie XS727 at RAF Cranwell will have a plaque uncovered soon and will officially be one of the RAFC Cranwell Gate Guardians. The plaque will contain the history of the aircraft and the units that operated her over the past 45 years. |
I can only answer "Great Little Aeroplanes". The heating system did need a little attention and if allowed to cold soak at 35,000 ft then it could get cold. Since RVSM and rarely flying above FL280 it was less of a problem.
The aircraft was at it's best at 250ft agl (or there abouts) in Wales, the Lakes or Scotland. Wonderfully versatile and a joy to fly. |
DOMINIE HEATING.
Problem solved.
On freezing high-level functional trips, by easing open the smoke removal "Ping-Pong ball" lever under the right hand pilot/student seat until just before the green DV Closed light illuminated, most of the discharge air then vented via the cockpit. This ensured a comfortable temperature for the single pilot as long as the RPM didn't change too much. It was so effective that several time the SODCAT operatives in the back requested me to turn UP the heating! All one needed to remember was to restore normal operation pre-descent, at which point the hissing noise acting as reminder would cease. It always made me wonder why the smoke removal drill for the 'Dom' meant that any smoke in the cabin would flood the cockpit on its exit. And the DeHaviland 125 was a CIVILIAN design, approved by you know who, formerly of Kingsway in London............. What WERE they thinking in the design office and the certifying authority?? Otherwise, great little aeroplane and fun job, pity Finningley was run by those of doubtful ability and intelligence...................... |
I once did a check on a 125 and that like a Learjet I worked on, had smoke goggles with handy little breathing holes all around the circumference to stop them misting up lol...
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Wonderfully versatile and a joy to fly |
Barking. I think you will find the 125 early series were certificated before the Kingsway mob' came into being.
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a w ditor,
I stand corrected if the 125 was certificated by other than the Committee Against Aviation. FCL certainly operated out of a small empire in/near Kingsway in London before the "Belgrano" was launched. However, that's academic, SOMEONE who should have known better signed off the smoke removal mechanism. My actions in the event of said smoke would have been to open the discharge valve, so dumping it out via the rear cabin (sorry Navs!) whilst closing rapidly with nearest airfield. Yes, the cabin would have climbed but it would anyway with the "ping-pong ball" lever fully open. As the Dom Sqn UFSO, I asked to run a trial, on the ground, with a pressurised ' frame and harmless vegetable oil smoke released inside to illustrate the hazard. Needless to say it was filed under 'too difficult' or more likely ' too embarassing' to the powers that be. :) |
Wasn't one from Finningley Barrel Rolled? |
I believe it was was "rolled" by a Wg Cdr Flying' at Finningley who subsequently was Court Martialled. Although I can recall the President I can't recall the outcome!
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Not sure about "rolling" at FY, but one of the Staish's was Court Martialed for single engined rollers with the Dom full of FAF VIP's.
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Flew nearly all the trips with the Dump Valve (for that is what it was) cracked. Still had really cold feet.
Remember MSQFL? Loosely translated means, go find some icing then fly in it for two hours . . . eugh! Oh and use the useless TKS ANTI ice system. As I said - nasty little aeroplane. |
Brian,
Maybe you flew the aircraft in an era when High Level NavExs were all that the Sqn did. In latter years we spent a lot of time a 250ft all over the UK and occasionally in France. There were many opportunities to go away for the weekend with destinations from Tallin to Seville and Lisbon to Akrotiri. We nearly had as many different destinations in Europe as NetJets! Yes there were the odd Wick and back trips at FL280, but the fun sorties by far outweighed those. The aircraft has proved itself over 45 years to be incredibly versatile. |
D2 - Indeed - but I will never forget that peculiar smell - a mixture of rakosan (spelling?) from the thunderbox, sweat and fear!
Oh and the sound of the houchin starting up which meant the start of four hours stress. Double deductions anybody???? |
2 Planks - By 2003 the Elsan had been removed from the aircraft and the Navs faced forward. I must say that my view of the Dominie is from a purely pilots perspective. I fully understand that there was much pain endured by those aft of the bulkhead, particularly inflicted upon Nav Students!
In the later years I believe that the Instructors had a far more enlightened approach. Although the move to RAFC Cranwell had its own problems, there were many benefits in getting away from the Old Empire of Nav School and the influence of the V Force! |
Brian May
Are you the Engineer Instructor who would probably have cracked my Dump Valve? With an advanced sense of humour, but no prisoners where senior orifices were concerned? Feel free to pm me on this wiring loom! K9 |
Maybe you flew the aircraft in an era when High Level NavExs were all that the Sqn did. In latter years we spent a lot of time a 250ft all over the UK and occasionally in France. There were many opportunities to go away for the weekend with destinations from Tallin to Seville and Lisbon to Akrotiri. We nearly had as many different destinations in Europe as NetJets! Yes there were the odd Wick and back trips at FL280, but the fun sorties by far outweighed those. Remember doing a low level with Ian Nelson (then head of Standards) and me on a Friday afternoon when the highest we went was recovering into FY circuit - that was fun. I shall concede (big of me huh?) that it was a 'Nasty Little Aeroplane' for me, but brilliant for everyone else. But there again, I'm probably a grumpy old f**ker. It was however a good lead-in to the Tristar, so probably worth it :cool: |
And everyone laughed at my heated socks but my toes was always warm....only bad one was assymetric socks when the wire pulled out of one of them. Had fun flying them and am sure you had at least some fun Brian. Enjoyed the low level back from Germany when my student was "sick"
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